Judge Approves Use of Biosolids

Allows use for crop fertilization, landscaping, and other applications.

Overturning an earlier ban, a U.S. District Court has granted the city of Los Angeles and other agencies, businesses, and farmers the right to use biosolids for crop fertilization, landscaping, and other applications.

According to Cynthia Ruiz, president of the Los Angeles Board of Public Works, the ruling proves the city operates a safe, exemplary biosolids reuse program at the city-owned Green Acres Farm.

“An adverse ruling would have caused significant harm to the city and region by dramatically increasing the costs of managing biosolids and increasing pollution in our environment,” she says.

Voters in Kern County had passed the banning ordinance in June 2006. However, in his summary, Judge Gary Allen Keess stated that agencies cannot be required to stop producing biosolids, and that land application constitutes a beneficial and safe way to manage the material.